Ricky Gervais recalls ‘upsetting’ US actor with jokey speech: ‘It was a great joke’

The British comedian made the quip at The Golden Globes

Ricky Gervais has revealed that a joke he made about Mr Tim Allen during the 2011 Golden Globes left the American sitcom star feeling hurt.

The British comedian reflected on the incident while appearing on The Romesh Ranganathan Show, discussing his time hosting the awards ceremony.

Mr Gervais fronted the Golden Globes on five occasions between 2010 and 2020, becoming known for his sharp, often controversial humour.

He admitted that not all of Hollywood’s elite welcomed being the target of his barbs.

Ricky Gervais

| PA“There’s a couple that I found out after didn’t appreciate it much,” Mr Gervais said, before confirming that Mr Allen was among those who took offence.

The joke involved Mr Gervais introducing Mr Allen and Mr Tom Hanks as co-presenters in a deliberately unbalanced way.

Mr Gervais explained that he had lavishly praised Mr Hanks, listing his films, awards and box office success, before abruptly introducing Mr Allen with no accompanying accolades.

“I go out there, ‘Our next two presenters, the first was in Forrest Gump, Philadelphia,’” he recalled, noting that Mr Hanks had generated more than five billion dollars at the box office.

Tim Allen was allegedly offended by Mr Gervais’ jokes at The Golden Globes

He said the contrast was intentional, designed to provoke laughter through bathos.

“The second is Tim Allen,” Mr Gervais recalled saying, with nothing more added.

He acknowledged that while the joke was effective, it was also unkind. “It was a great joke, but it was a bit cruel,” he admitted.

Mr Gervais said he later encountered Mr Allen following the ceremony, where the actor made his displeasure clear.

Mr Gervais fronted the Golden Globes on five occasions between 2010 and 2020, becoming known for his sharp, often controversial humour

“I met him afterwards and said, ‘Listen, the thing is Tim, who would win standing next to Tom Hanks?’” he recalled.

“There clearly was bathos in that, but who couldn’t I do that with walking out with Tom Hanks?”

Despite defending the joke’s construction, Mr Gervais conceded he understood why Mr Allen felt embarrassed.

“He’s TV, sitcom, or whatever, but it wasn’t that bad, I do get it,” he said.

“It is embarrassing to be the butt of the joke, even against Tom Hanks.”

Mr Gervais also admitted that he was under no obligation to deliver the gag. “I didn’t have to do the joke. I can’t go, ‘I have to do the joke’,” he said.

Discussing his broader approach to hosting the Golden Globes, Mr Gervais said maintaining an outsider status was essential.

“I had to be an outsider to get away with it,” he explained, adding that pandering to celebrities would have alienated viewers at home.

Ricky Gervais on The Romesh Ranganathan Show

He described excessive praise of Hollywood stars as “nauseating” for audiences.

However, the comedian stressed that he never set out to deliberately cause genuine distress.

Mr Gervais said he only aimed to offend those who had “done something wrong” and revealed he had occasionally sought permission from individuals before joking about them.

This year’s Golden Globes ceremony is scheduled to take place on January 11, with comedian Mr Nikki Glaser returning as host for a second consecutive year.